DeMar DeRozan is headed to Denver.
Free agent forward DeRozan plans to sign with the Nuggets, according to Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime and NBA TV. The move comes after DeRozan, who turned 37 earlier this month, became a free agent in July when the Kings waived his partially guaranteed contract in a cost-cutting move.
A number of teams checked in on the six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection before he chose Denver, but the Nuggets had a clear edge. Haynes reported that Nikola Jokic, Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray all helped recruit DeRozan, and sources told him DeRozan wants to play for a contender. DeRozan currently sits 16th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
Shams Charania of ESPN confirmed that the deal will be for one year and $3.9MM. It’s a minimum-salary contract, with DeRozan set to earn $3.88MM and Denver carrying a $2.45MM cap hit.
On paper, the fit is pretty simple: DeRozan brings scoring punch. He may not be at his peak anymore, and defense has never been his calling card, but he still produced last season in Sacramento, averaging 18.4 points, 4.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 steal while shooting .497/.321/.868 across 77 games. He played 31.2 minutes per game.
Durability has been one of DeRozan’s biggest calling cards throughout his career. The No. 9 pick in the 2009 draft has appeared in at least 60 regular-season games in all 17 of his NBA seasons, and he’s logged at least 74 games in each of the last five years. He has started 1,252 of his 1,264 career games, though that number figures to change in Denver, where he is expected to come off the bench.
The Nuggets have been active in reshaping the roster around their core this offseason. They kept one restricted free agent forward by matching Spencer Jones’ two-year offer sheet with Oklahoma City, but they also moved Peyton Watson in a sign-and-trade to Cleveland on Thursday for a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2032 second-rounder. Denver also lost Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency, while Bruce Brown remains unsigned.
The financial picture is heavy, too. Once DeRozan’s signing is official, Denver will have 14 players on guaranteed deals and is projected to owe $75MM in luxury tax, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, who also noted the team is $3.15MM over the second apron.
Lonnie Walker IV is on a non-guaranteed training camp deal with the Nuggets, and Marks expects Denver to begin the season with 14 players rather than carrying the full 15. The Heat also spoke with DeRozan, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reported, but their preference was Klay Thompson because of how he fits their roster construction. Thompson is expected to sign with Miami after a buyout with the Mavs.
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